Famagusta’s Varosha, once known as a ‘ghost city’ frozen in time, is now focused on rebuilding and boosting tourism in an effort to regain its status as the French Riviera of Cyprus.
Located on the eastern coast of Cyprus, the once-thriving tourist area of Famagusta became a ‘ghost’ city after the Turkish invasion, with locals too afraid to return.
However, as the city attempts to reopen its doors, Famagusta is hopeful that it can rebuild and once again welcome people from all over the world. Famagusta, specifically the area known as Varosha, was once a bustling city that attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, including iconic stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot. It was also a wealthy port city with a lot history, stunning beaches and medieval ruins.
The city’s vibrant atmosphere was abruptly halted in 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus amid ongoing ethnic tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. This event dramatically altered the region’s future. Once Varosha was taken by the Turkish military, around 39,000 residents fled, leaving behind their homes, businesses, and the essence of what made Famagusta so famous. As the Turkish military assumed control, the city was left abandoned, effectively becoming a ‘ghost city’ – until now.
Visitors can still enter Famagusta at the designated checkpoints, where they can cross the border by foot, car, or bus. Once in the city, tourists can see the crumbling buildings, abandoned cars and how the city has been frozen in time.
In an effort to revive the area, Famagusta is launching an ambitious campaign under the slogan Live Unforgettable Moments. This campaign targets key tourism markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Sweden, in the hopes of attracting a diverse range of visitors. The city’s unique beauty is showcased in over 14 million ads launched across various digital platforms, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
Aya Napa’s Mayor, Christos Zannetou, commented that this initiative marks the first time that all tourism stakeholders in the region have come together to revive such a project. The campaign has already become a milestone for the region, signalling a collective effort to restore Famagusta.
While the city’s road to recovery is undoubtedly a long one, the new tourism push is a hopeful sign for Famagusta’s future. If successful, it could help reintegrate the area into Cyprus’s tourism industry and offer new opportunities for both local residents and international visitors alike.
The return of Famagusta as a tourist destination would not only heal some of the wounds of the past but also allow it to embrace a new chapter, filled with potential and promise for the future.
